These are revealing times.
On August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, Michael Brown, an unarmed Black man with his hands in the air, was shot to death by a White police officer, Darren Wilson. His uncovered body was left on the street for 4.5 hours as a symbol to the community who really has power and how little Black lives matter. This message was further cemented three months later with the lack of indictment of officer Darren Wilson – no accountability. No consequences. The resulting protests and civil unrest are trying to shed light on the actual issue: how deeply systemic racism is in our country. Yet, we can’t even really talk about it because so much energy is used to countering points meant to cast doubt, realigning derailed conversations, and refocusing every attempt to distract attention to the problem that everyone doesn’t want to talk about.
Why is it so hard for us to accept that the killing of an unarmed person is wrong? And that there needs to be accountability? Our inability to accept, understand, and talk about racism is the problem. The conversations I’ve seen online, heard, and/or been a part of have revealed to me the people in my life who are quick to denounce or devalue issues of race in this country. As I’m struggling to process this, I am again reminded just how deeply rooted, systemic, and pervasive racism is in our country.
Here’s what racism allows us to do: Continue reading “These are Revealing Times: My Response to Friends’ Racist Reactions to Ferguson”
Jessika Chi 